Internal-combustion engine.



F, S. THORNLEY.

RENAL GOMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION lFlLiID APR. 10. 1912.

Panene Apr. 2, wm

Attoz'nev's DUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDBIG s. THoRrLEYfoF CLARION, IOWA.

s-INTERNALCQMBUSTION ENGINE.

'Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Appncanon inea April 1o, 1912. semi un. 689,149.

Api-. 21, 1914.

To all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERIC S. THORN- LEY, a citizen of. thefUnited States, residing the ower piston of which is provided with inta te andy exhaust ports in the lieadnd through the opposite walls thereof that are controlled .by a rotary valve disposed above and 'in operative Vrelationto the ports of the head and controlled through the operation ofthe crank shaft. to )eriiiit of-'the proper timing oflthe intake o the explosive charge and the exhaust of the burnt gases, tlie cylinder in which the power piston is'niounted V.being provided with oppositely disposed in-` take and exhaust orts positioned so as to be at thelowet point ofthe stroke, wherebv the piston is permitted the full stroke oi" the cylinder during compression to compress the explosive charge inthe siiiallest possible.

space, the exhaustl taking place after the piston has reached its fullest iii-stroke position and has started upon'. its oiit.-sti'oke, thus` securing from the explosive charge the maximum amount of power. r p

A further object of th'e present ini-'entiou is the provision of'a scraping or cleaning. deviceopcra'tcd simultaneously with the-1ro-v tary valve to remove the yadhering carbon from the end `of the piston.

Astill further object ot the'prcseut inventionis the provision ot a novel forni ol valve actuating means disposed concentri-- Vcally of the: power piston `aud 'journaled within the piston rod, a universal joint and adjusting means being provided to p'erinit. ol the proper adjustment 'of tlre rotary valve in order that it may he operated in time with the n'ioveiueiits of the power pistou.

A still further object ot the invention is the provision of a splash lubricating iueaus disposed coiiceiitrieally of 'the operating iuechanisnrfor the rot-ary valve for receiving the lubricant at the lower portion of the crank case and directing it to the upper and lower faces of the rotary valve t'o insure the proper lubrication :heirs-f.

With the ioicgoii'ig and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combinatioi and arrangement of parts and in the detailsof construction hereinafter de-- scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be'inade within-the `scope; of what is claimed without departing' from the spirit of the invention.

4'In the drawings-Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view through a Single cyl# inder of the internal combustion vengine ent invention, the power piston being in its lowerniost position.' Fig '2 is a Similar View with the piston in its highest position. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig.- l taken at right angles thereto. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the cylinder and the head portion of the power piston. Fig. 5 is Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the carbon removing seraper. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the universal joint coupling for the rotary valve actuating rod. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view :ofl the lower end of theV rotariy V'alve operating rod .""Fig. 9 is -au enlarged detail view of the iiiain piston rod connection with the crank shaft, showing the gearv for actuating the rotary valve. -l" ig. l() is a perspective yview of the piston, with the retaining disk and rotary valve rey moved. Fig. 1l is a top plan view` of the pistou minusv the disk and valve. lf`ig.`12 is -a'- perspective. view of the .retaining disk. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the rotary valve. Referring lo the drawings, the numeral l. designates thi` crank ca se and base of the eiigii|e.-\\'liirli forms a reservoir for the lubrivant ol a splash lubricating system, and has iourualed therein` the. crank shaft 2 which rod Il. said pis on rod Si being provided near tlnupper i-nd thereof with the inclined bore 4 which is disposed ai an angle so asto terminate in a reress near the. lower eiidof the actuating rod 5 whose lower endo is provided with tlie toothed portion (3, whereby the said lower end may be. adjusted to regulate the timing oi the valve lil controlled by said 4rod 5, as will presently appear. The .band 3 is coniiected to the piston rod il at `its connection with the crank shaft and forms a lower journal for the valve actuating rod 5. A worm gear 7 is keyed to' the made' according to and embodying the pres! a. cross section taken on line .5@5 of Fig. 1.

has operalil)r connected thereto the piston piston rod and foruia journal for the valve.

the crank shaf't will in'ipart` through the worm gears S and 7 the proper rotation to the valve actuating rod or shaft 5.

The upper end of the valve actuating rod 5 is connected by means of the universal joint 10, which is disposed inline with the pin 31. -torconnecting the piston rod 3 to the power misten, to the'valvel. The universal joint 1.0 connects the upper end of the shaft 5 to the lowcrfend of the valve carrying stem 11, which is journaled in the concentric sleeve 15 of the power piston 14 and carries upoirits upper end the coneaved rotary disk valve 13, which is'disposed in the recess 15 formed in the'hcad 1G of the piston 14,-the annular rim 1.7 providing a ,proper seat for the rotary disk -valvey 13 and co-aCt-ing with the :retainingconcaved disk 18 to properly position and retain therotary valve 13 relatively to the power piston. The head 16 and retaining disk 18 are provided with aline'd exhaust ports 21-24 and the intake ports Q5-25",

while the rotary valve 13 is provided with a single port 2G Awhich is adapted to be pla-ced in registra-tion with 'the respective ports 24-24 and Z5-25', in proper time with the i reciprocation of the power piston 14. The

'disk 18 is Aproperly secured to the power pis ton 14 by means of screws or other fastening means, such as`19, so as to permit of ready access to the rotary valve 13, as clearly shown piston 14, While' the branch b conveys the in Figa.

In the concentric bore 2O of the retaining disk, 18, is disposed a sleeve or bushing 21, .the same being mounted so as to rotate -with the screw Q2 which secures the b ushing Qllto the valve stem 11 upon the upper side of the valve 13. lhis bushing `21vcarries the scraper arm or blade 23 which is curved to conform to' theupper surface of the retainingdisk 18,

so that when rotated any carbon. that may adhere to the'upper surface of the retaining disk 18 will be scraped. therefrom to be linally ejected through the exhaust ports 24 and Q4 of the disk 18 and valve head 1G.

Formed in the walls of the power piston 14 are the respective exhaust and inlet re1 cesscs't and 25, the saine being so disposed as to permit of the proper4 admission ot the cplosive charge through the intake port 27 into the intake recess 251 of the'power piston :1nd finally through the po rts "35',-Q(l and 25 into the explosive chamber of the cylinder (l: The rotary valve 5l' is so timed that the f registration just n'a-,ntioncd will take place upon the down stroke ot the piston t4 so as to insure of the proper, passage of' the. cx-

plosive charge within the 'chamber of the cylinder (l so that upon the up or compres Sion stroke, the charge will be properly compresse. and will not-lie' forced into any aux- -the rotary valve 13.

iliary chamber, as is usually the case where puppet valves ae employed. lhc rotaryr valve take place until the pistou has been moved' to its lowest point and has started upon the up stroke at which time the ports 211, Qt and 21 .are placed in registration and the burnt gases Vare ejected through the exhaust recess into the exhaust manifold 2S ot the cylinder. l

The cylinder C is provided with the water jacket J the full' length thereof and has lmounted in its upper end the spark plug S.

As the rotary valve 13 is practically infcased in 'the upper end of the power piston ll-"t, itis necessary that the stern 11 and that the upper and under surfaces ot' the valve be properly lubricated, and in orderrto ac .eomplish this in an etlicient .manner to prevent 'any binding whatsoever, a feed spout 9 is disposed at the lower end ot-the member 5 of the valve actuating rod, the same bc-4 ing carried by the locking plug or sleeve 9.9 which is provided with a concentric bore 30 terminating in the valve seatl controlled4 by a ball valve 32 within the chainber formed in the lower end of thetshaft 5. The shaft 5. is provided with the lubricant conveying bore 9" lthe full length thereof which leads into' the lower end'of the bore '9 of the valvestein 11. 'The upper 'end of the bore 9 terminates in the respective branches a, b and c, the branch' a conveying the lubricant to lubricate the stem '11 and the inner wall of the-sleeve l5 of the 'power lubricant tothe underside ofthe'retaining disk 18 'and consequently 'the upper side of; The branch c directs Vthev lubricant between the under surface of. the valve 18 and the recess formed in' the head of the cylinder 14. vThe valve 32 will actas a check valve to prevent the lubricant from flowing back into t-he bore -lO ot' the locking sleeve 29, and thus insure the proper feeding ofthe lubricant to the rotary valve 13, while the outer wall of the piston 14- provided with the packing rings d ande will be .il is so timed that the exhaust. does notproperly lubricated from t-hc splash, duc to the crank shaft entering the lubricant with-'- in the crank case of the engine.` A guiding spoutor lip 33 1s formed upon the lower end ot' the piston rod `3`to direct the lubricant to.

the worm gears 8 ande7, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9.

liy meais tlf-the loekingasleeve 29, the same may V,be removed trom conntion with the lowcr'end of the shaft 5 so as to release the lowersection 5 ott.he shaft and permit the lower section to be rotated toproperly adjust the worm 7 with relation to the port 3G ol the valve' lfl, thus insuring aineans ,\\.'l.ereby the port Q6 will be always in proper time with the reciproeatif-us oil las pis-lon, so that. the ex'ilcsive charge will he' 'aken intothe explosive chamber of thel cylinder at the proper time, and the burnt charges bc exhausted therefrolnalso in proper time.

In order to varyv 'the explosive chamber area by increasing or decreasing the length of the cylinder C, and consequently vary the compressive action of the piston, the met-al gasket 40,vvhich' maybe made of varying heights, is insertlble between the body and head of thecylinder.

From Vthe foregoing.description taken in .connection with the drawings, the operation of the present internal comlmstion engine is.

readilynnderstood, but briefly stated it is as followsr' Assuming-the piston llt to be in the posltion vas shown 1n Fig. 1, the engine will be cranked'or rotated in the direction o' .the arrow Fig. l and thus move the piston upwardly, the port 26' at this time being in registration vwith the exhaust. ports 24-24 so that there will b e practically no compression within the cylinder. Upon the continued 'rot-ation of the crank shaft,ithe piston 14 will be. moved downwardly at which-point the port 2G will be brought into overlapping registration with the ports 25 and 25 so that an explosive charge will be taken into the cylinder during the down stroke, at which time the port 2Gywill have passed beyond the ports and 25 closing -the explosivechamber to permit of the proper'compression of the charge within the 'chanlberl At the highest point of compression, the charge will be exploded and.

the piston will be moveddownwardly, and when just reaching its lowest point and starting upon itsup-stroke, the port 26 will have been moved. into overlapping registration with the ports 24 and 24 to permit ol the burnt gases exhausting*therethrough and from the recess 24a into the exhaust port- This registration.continues until the piston has traveled up\\-'a1dly-again, thus' insuring the proper expulsion of the burnt gases from the explosive chaniber'and prevvious to the intake of theexplosive charge through the intake port 27.

ll'hat is claimed is:

l. An internal combustion engine, having piston for controlling the ports thereof, and

means oeprably connecting said valve with the crank shaf v 2. An internal combustion engine, having i a crank case, a cylinder provided with an intake and-an exhaust port., a crank shaft, a power piston mounted 1n the cylinder and operably connected to. the crank shaft, said piston being provided with anintake and an exhaust port, a rot-ary valve carried by the piston andha ringa. single port disposed for registration with the respect-ive intake and exhaust ports of the piston, and means operably connecting said valve -with the crank shaft.

An internal combustion engine, having a crank case, a cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust .-port,-a crank shaft-,a power piston mounted in the cylinder and operably connected to the crank-shaft, said piston beingprovided with an intake and an exhaust port, a rotary valve carried by the piston and having a single port disposed for registratioirwith.the respective intake and exhaust ports of the piston, amlnieans carried by the piston, and'piston rod, and operated from the crank shaft for operating the valve.

4. An' internal combustion engine, having' a crank case, a cylinder provided with an intakc and an exhaust por-t, a crank shaft, a power piston mounted in thecyclinder, a rod operably connecting the power piston to the crank shaft, said power piston being. provided with an intake and an exhaust port therein, a rotary valve having a single port carried by the power piston, and means journaled in the piston rod ainlopcrably connected to the crank shaft and valve for aetuating the valveto :ontrol'the intal-ie'and exhaust portsv of the piston.

An internal combustion engine., having a crank case, a cylinder provided with an intake and an'exhaust. port. a crankshaft, Aa power piston mounted in the cylinder, a. rod

-operablv connecting the power piston to the.

crank shaft, said power piston being provided with' an intake and an exhaust port therein, a rotary valve having,r a single port carried by the power piston, and a shaft journalcd in the piston rod, said shaft having its lower elulopcralllv connected to the crank shoft and its upper end operably connected to thc rotary valve, whereby the. ro-

tary valve is actuated from the cra-nk shaft. Anrinternal combustion engine, having a. crank ease, a cylinder with'oppositcly dis.

posed intake aml exlninstfports intermediate of its ends, a crank shaft, a power piston niounted in the c vlinder aml operably conlnecte-d to 'the crank shaft, said piston having two oppositcly disposed recesses i'n its walls andtwo ports in .its head, a -rotary valve having a single portmounted in the head of the piston Afor controlling the ports thereof, means for operably connecting said valve. with the crank shaft, and means for scraping the upper surface of tlugpower piston operably connectedv to and-actuated simultaneously with the. rotary valve.

An internal combustion engine, having a. crank case, :r cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust port, a crank shaft, a

power piston mounted in the cylinder and operably connected to the crank shaft, said v piston being 'provided witl vin intake and an exhaust. port, a rotary valve having a single port mounted in the piston and disposed for registration with the respective intake and exhaust ports of the piston, means operably connecting said valve with the crank shaft, and means for scraping the upper surface of the. power piston operably connected to and actuated .simultaneously with thc rotary valve.

8. An internal combustion engine, having a crank case, a cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust-port, a crank shaft, va power piston mounted in the cylinder and -opel-ably connected to the crank shaft, said piston being provided with au intake and an exhaust port, a'rotary valve having a single port mounted in the piston-and disposed for 'registration with the respective' intake and `exhaust ports ofthe piston, means carried by the piston, and piston rod, and operated from the crank shaft for operating the valve,-

and means for scraping the upper surface of the power piston opel-ably connected to and actuated simultaneously with the rotary valve. i

9. An internal con'ibustion engine', having a crank case,` a cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust port, a crank shaft, a power pistou mounted -in the cylinder, a -rod opcrably connecting the power piston tov the crank shaft, said power piston being provided with'an intake and an exhaust port therein, a rotary valve' having a single port carried by the power piston, means journalcd in the piston rod and opel-ably connected to the crank lshaft and valve for actu ating the-valve to control the intake-arid exhaust ports of the `piston, and means for scraping the upper surface of the power pistou operahly 'connected to and actuated simultaneously with the rot-ary valve. y

10. VAn internal comlnlstion engine. having a crank ase, a cylinder provided with an intake anti-au exhaust port. a crank shaft, a power piston mounted in the cylinder, a rod operably connecting the power piston to the crank shaft, said power piston being provided with an intake and an exhaust port therein, a rotary valve having a single port carried'by thepower piston; a shaft jourualed in the piston rod, said shaft. having its lower end operably connected to the crank shaft and its upper end operably connected to t-herotary valve, whereby the rotary valve .is actuated from the crank shaft, and means for scraping theu'pper surface of vthe power pistn operahly connected to -and actuated simultmieously with the rotary valve.

tl; ."x'n internal.combustion engine, havin;r a Vcrank cas-c. a cylinder with oppositely disposed -intakc and exhaust ports intermediate of its ends', a frank shaft, a power piston mounted in the cylinder and operably connected to the'crauk shaft, said piston having two oppositely disposed recesses in its walls and two ports in its head, a rotary valve having a single portI mounted in the head of the piston for controllingthc ports thereof, means operably connecting said valve with the crank shaft, and means .for

conducting a lubricant from the crank case to the rotary valve. i

12. A n internal combustion engine, having a crank case,- a cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust port` a crank shaft, 'a power piston mounted in the cylinder and operabtv connected to the crankshaft, said piston being p-ovidcd with an intake and an exhaust port', a rotary-valve having a` single port mounted iu the piston and disposed for -exhaust ports of the piston, means: carried b v. the piston, piston rod, and operated fromV the crank shaft for operating the valve, and means for conducting a lubricant from the crank case to the rotary valve. v

14. An internal combustion engine, having a crank case.l a cylinder provided with an intake and an exhaust port., a crank shaft, a power piston mounted in the cylindcr, a rod operahlv connecting the power piston to the crank shaft, said power piston being provided with ali-intake and an exhaust port. therein, a rotary valve having a single port carried by the power piston,

means journaled in the piston rod and operably connected to the crank shaft and valve for actuating the valve to control the-intake and exhaust. ports of the piston, and means for conducting a lubricant from the crank c'as'e to the rotary valve.

15. An internalcombustion engine, having a crank case, a cylinder provided -With an intake and an exhaust port-,l a crank ha'ft,-a. power piston mounted/in the cylinder, a rod operably connecting the power piston tothel crank shaft-il said power piston being' provifletl'with an intake and an hau'st, port therein, a rotary 'alve having a sha-ft liournaled in the piston rod, said shaft, having its lower end operably connected to thc crank shaft and its upper end operably connected to the rotary valve, whereby single port carried by the power piston, a

the rotary valve is actuated froml the crank shaft, a'nd means for conducting a lubricant from the crank case to the rot-ary valve.

.16. An internal combnstimi engine, having a base, aV crank shaft, a piston rod,.a cylinder, said cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, apower piston mounted in the cylinder and connected to the piston rod, a rotary disk `valve havinga stem mounted concentrieally of the upper end of the power piston, said rotary disk valve being provided wit-h a single port, said power piston beingI provided with an intake and exhz'nlst port controlled'by the port lof the rotary ,15' valve, and means connected to the crank shaft and to t-heconcentric stem of the rotary valve for'lactuaiing the valve from the crankshaft. #Je l Y Y 17. An internal combustion engine, hav ing a base, a crank shaft, a piston rod, a cylinder, said' cylinder-having intake and exhaust ports, a power piston mounted in the cylinder and connected to the piston rod. fa rotary disk valve having a stem mounted eoneentrically of the upper end of the power piston, said rotary disk valve being prolviled with a single port, said power piston beingxprovided with an intake and an exhaust port controlled by thev port'of the rotary valve, a, shaft journaled in the piston rod, a universal joint connecting the upper end of the shaft to the lower end of the valve stem, and c'oact'i-ng means carried. by the lower'end of said shaft and the crank `shaft for operating said shaft and the rotary Dvalve from the crank shaft. 1S. An internal combustion engine, having a base, a cra-nk shaft, a piston rod, a cylinder, said cylinder having intake and 40 exhaust ports, a power piston mounted in the cylinder andconneeted to the piston rod, a 1otarydisk valvehaving a stem mounted eoncentri'cally of the upper end of the. power piston, said rot-ary disk valve being provided with a single port, said power piston being provided with an intake and'ewhaust port controlled by the port-ofthe rotary valve, A a shaft journaled in the piston rod, a uni versal joint connecting the upper ond of 5o the shaft to the lower end of he valve stem, the lower end of said Shaft being detachable and adjustable to regulate the timing of the rotary valve with the reciproeation of the power piston, and enactingr means carried by the lower end of said shaft and the crank shaft for oper-ably connecting the rotary valve to thecrank shaft.

19. An internal combustion engine, having a cylinder, anda power piston n'iounted i0 for reciprocation therein, said power piston having a concaved recessed portion in the head thereof and a. concentric bore leading therefrom, said power piston being provided nith intake and 'exhaust ports through the head thereof, a coneaved disk valve mounted in the recess of the'piston head and -provided with a. concentric stem disposed forA vided with a single port, and a retaining f disk connected to the power piston above the rotary valve. and provided with intake and exhaust ports in registration with therespeetive intahe and exhaust ports of the power piston.

20. An internal combustion engine, having a cylinder, anda power piston mounted for reeiprocation therein, s aid power piston having a eoneaved recessed portion in thev hea-dthereof and a concentric bore leading therefroimsaid power. piston being provided' with intake-and exhaust orts through the head thereof, a eoneaved dlsk alve mounted in the recess of the piston head and provided with a concentric stem disposed for rotation within the concentric bore of the power piston, said rotary 'alve being provided with a single port, a piston rod 'connected to the power piston, a crank shaft'opeably con; neeted to the piston rod, a shaft. journaled in the piston rod, anniversal joint connectingr the upper end of the shaft to the lower end of the. rotary valve stein, andA eoacting means carried upon thelower end of said shaft and the crank shaft for operating the rotary valve.

21. An internal combustion engine, having a cylinder, and a power piston mounted For reriprocation therein, said power piston having a. concaved recessed portion in the 'Thead' thereof, and a concentric bore leading therefrom, said power piston being,r provided with intake and exhaust, ports through the i head thereof, a coneaved disk valve mounted in the recess of the piston head and provided with a concentric stem disposed for rotation within the concentric bore of the power pis# ton, said rotary valve being provided with a' single port., -a piston rod connected to the power piston, a crank sha-ft operably con nccted to the piston rod, a shaft journal-led in the piston rod, a universal joint connecting the upper end of the shaft to the lower.

,end of the'rotary valve stem, Vand coaoting means carried upon the lower end of said shaft. and the crank shaft. for operating the -rotary valve. said shaft and valve stem being provided with lubricant conveying ducts for lubriaiting the upper and lower surfacesof the rotary valve and the stem thereof.

An internal combustion engine, havingr a cylinder` and a power pistonv mounted for recil'nocation therein, said' power piston having a concaved recessed portion in the head thereof, and a concentric bore leading therefrom, said power piston being provided with intake and exhaust ports through the. head thereof, a concaved disk valve mounted infthe recess, of the piston head and provided with a concentric stem disposed 'for rota-ting within the concentric bore of the power piston, said rotary valve being provided \\'ith a single port, a. retaining disk secured to the piston headA and over the (valve, a. piston rod connected to the power piston, a crank shaft opera-bly connected .to the piston rod, a. shaft jonrnaled in the piston rod, a universal joint oonnecting'the upper end of the shaft to the lower end' of the. rotary valvestem, coasting meanscarried upon the 1mi-'er end of said shaft and the. crank shaft for operating the rotary valve, said shaft and valve stem being provided with lubrieanteonveying duets for 1,093 eee having a recessed portion in the head thereof;

and a. concentric bore leading therefrom, 'said power pistou being provided with in 'take and exhaust ports through the head thereof, a disk valve mounted in the ress of the piston head and provided with a ooncentrie Stein disposed for rotation Within the concentric-bore of the power' pistoinisaid rotary valve being provided with a single port, and a retaining disk connected to the power piston above the rotary valve and provided with intake and exhaust. ports in registra-tion with the respective intake and exhaust. ports of the'power piston. A In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have' hereto affixed my signa.- ture in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIC S. THORNLEY.

Witnesses: I Y 'SELINA VViLLsoN.l MONROE E. MILLER. 

